CELLULAR SALE & TRANSITION INFORMATION

We know there are reasons you chose us for your cellular needs, and we are extremely appreciative of the loyal customers who stayed with Mid-Rivers Wireless for all these years.

The Cooperative is in business to provide essential services that are not available from other providers, and in the case of cellular services, others can now do it better. The landscape has changed drastically from when we built our first cell tower in 1997, and the substantial amount of roaming dollars from other carriers that helped build the network and keep it going for 20 years are drying up. The sale of our cellular network assets now will help insure that quality modern wireless services remain available in this region into the future.

Mid-Rivers is your Internet company, and the only option for broadband services for many Eastern and Central Montana residents and businesses. This transition will allow us to focus more of our limited resources on delivering real broadband services to rural customers on an expedited timeline.

As for cellular service, the local coverage should be the same as it was with Mid-Rivers and may even improve in some areas. There are a growing number of options available for your cellular services, and we are here to help you review those options and make the transition to a new cellular provider. You have time to review your options, so don't be pressured into switching before you are ready.

All current Mid-Rivers Wireless customers have been mailed a letter announcing the sale and providing general information on what is to come. More information will be shared through letters and other means as soon as new details, such as the final network transition date, become known. We are taking steps to ensure that you have plenty of time to review your options and make the transition to a new provider before we end our retail cellular operations.

FCC rules require the availability of phones that limit acoustic and electromechanical interference. Phones that meet a minimum rating of M3 or M4 will be labeled for HAC compliance for acoustic coupling; phones that meet a minimum rating of T3 or T4 will be labeled for HAC compliance for inductive coupling.

The packaging for hearing aid compatible phones will indicate the device’s “M” and “T” rating; the higher the “M” rating, the more likely you will be able to use the phone with your hearing aid on its microphone setting; the higher the “T” rating, the more likely you will be able to use the phone with your hearing aid on its telecoil setting. Ratings are not guaranteed. Mid-Rivers Wireless attempts to maintain a full selection of compliant handsets across all levels of functionality but may, from time to time, be unable to meet that goal due to limitations in the availability of handsets from suppliers.

Many hearing aids also are rated to measure their vulnerability to radio-frequency interference. This “immunity” rating is currently voluntary, so you should consult your hearing health professional or the hearing device manufacturer for more information.

Interference may be minimized or eliminated depending on the combination of hearing aid devices with digital mobile telephones, so TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!

Hearing Aid Compatible Phones Offered by Mid-Rivers

All wireless handsets offered by Mid-Rivers are available for testing at any of our retail locations. All hearing-aid compatible handset models are labeled as such. Customer Service Representatives at all Mid-Rivers office locations can assist you in testing and reviewing the features of each model.

**Mid-Rivers Wireless assigns each compliant handset a level of functionality based upon the company's assessment of two factors: price and operating features. Lower priced handsets with fundamental capabilities are defined as "Basic". More advanced functions or functionality with the availability of Wireless Internet or Wi-Fi capability or an operation system that supports advanced applications are classified as "Intermediate". More expensive phones with the highest level of functions or functionality available (such as advanced cameras and the fastest processors) are classified as "Advanced". Mid-Rivers Wireless attempts to maintain a full selection of compliant handsets across all levels of functionality but may, from time to time, be unable to meet that goal due to limitations in the availability of handsets from suppliers

***This phone has been tested and rated for use with hearing aids for some of the wireless technologies that it uses. However, there may be some newer wireless technologies used in the phone that have not been tested yet for use with hearing aids. It is important to try the different features of this phone thoroughly and in different locations, using your hearing aid or cochlear implant, to determine if you hear any interfering noise. Consult your service provider of the manufacturer of this phone for the information on hearing aid compatibility. If you have questions about return or exchange policies, consult your service provider or phone retailer.

**This phone has been tested and rated for use with hearing aids for some of the wireless technologies that it uses. However, there may be some newer wireless technologies used in this phone that have not been tested yet for use with hearing aids. It is important to try the different features of this phone thoroughly and in different locations, using your hearing aid or cochlear implant, to determine if you hear any interfering noise. Consult your service provider or the manufacturer of this phone for information on hearing aid compatibility. If you have questions about return or exchange policies, consult your service provider or phone retailer. For information on the FCC's Hearing Aid Compatibility Rating system, view the FCC Consumer Fact Sheet on Hearing Aid Compatibility for Wireless Phones.

Additional information can also be found HERE

NOTICE - Wireless signals require line of sight to work properly. The wireless signal can be interrupted by distance, hills, trees and buildings. Wireless signal reception can be increased in marginal areas by using an external antenna with your wireless phone.